Sean

9.8

Drank April 2021. Still quite young and very vibrant. Well rounded tannins and great structure. Jam, plum, blueberry, blackcurrant, raspberry and pepper notes. Has another 15 plus years of life left but drinks well now. — 4 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

This is a very aromatic Left Bank Bordeaux, with a great fruity nose and great complexity.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, herbs, dark chocolates, vinaigrette, coffee, black pepper and spices.

Drinking nicely now and will be better in 5 years.

Long finish with firm tannins and tangy cranberries, with a soft and elegant mouthfeel.


This 9 year old has good aging potential of another 15 to 20 years.

Needs 3 hours to open up properly and show all that complexity.

I paired it with Brie cheese and Italian meats.

Robert Parker 93 points.

A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit verdot.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$120. — 6 years ago

Ryan Vento

9.5

Rather suddenly, and without much explanation, Bordeaux found itself in the middle of my crosshairs as being the next place I wanted to conduct a deep dive in. With this shift in my general attention from New World to Old World I began to do more research on the various appellations, prominent chateaus, and nuances of Left Bank and Right Bank, as well as compile a spreadsheet highlighting specific bottles I wanted to seek out. For a reason unbeknownst to me, Château Ducru-Beaucaillou was the producer I wanted to start my deep dive with. I researched the history of the chateaux, learned about their wines, priced out vintages that were immediately available for my acquisition, and added it to my Bordeaux spreadsheet, waiting for the time to pull the trigger and purchase a bottle (or two) to start the trek with. As far as wines are concerned it was all I could think about: Ducru-Beaucaillou. Apparently, the mere act of researching a chateau left me beguiled, craving a wine I had never even had before! With all of this research in mind I’ve learned over the years that as much as I thoroughly enjoy researching and trying wine, it’s certainly more enjoyable to share the knowledge and the experiences with others. Enter @codyuzzel, who has heard more than his fair share of my wine ramblings over the years. One day we began discussing Bordeaux, Left Bank v. Right bank, and changes in our thought patterns about the region over the years, which eventually lead him to asking the million-dollar question: Are there any producers you’ve highlighted that you’re particularly interested in? I told him that Ducru-Beaucaillou was in my crosshairs, along with a handful of other producers that I’d explore once I’d tried Ducru. That’s when he texted me the picture; a picture of him holding a glorious bottle of 2012 Ducru-Beaucaillou. “I took this pic before we started this conversation.” Given the serendipitous nature of this occurrence he extended an invitation to pop the cork upon our next meeting, which is interesting in and of itself given that I had been thinking about visiting him at the wine bar just earlier that day. It’s moments like these that truly make the wine journey a sweet and rewarding one. Thanks, Cody, for your generosity and epic invitations.
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Anise, graphite, plums, and blackberries. Very polished and very delicious. — 6 years ago

with Cody

Mark Flesher

9.5

Wine of the night. This wine had EXCELLENT fruit, and showed NO VISIBLE SIGNS of decline. Great powerful blackberry. I was guessing 01 Stag's Leap or Rutherford. Turns out it was Caymus SS 01, but I was second guessing myself on the year because it was a very purple color into the decanter and showing well. The wine had great vanilla on the front, blackberry on the front, and a more youthful middle and finish with some herb. This wine has 10 years left in it no doubt. Whoever cut this one off at 2017 has no idea. This one literally showed no signs of decline whatsoever. Drink by date 2007 - 2030. — 8 years ago

Yoon Ha

Master Sommelier/Wine Director Benu

9.5

Refinement and plushness reminiscent of the right bank with a quiet firmness of the lower left bank. — 9 years ago

Mitzi Inglis

Marketing/Public Relations, Joseph Phelps Vineyards

9.4

Lots of life left in this wine. What a treat. From 3 liter. #josephphelps biased review — 9 years ago

with Joseph

Roland Boney

9.8

What a classic wine produced by one of the classiest winemaker in Napa Valley #eliasfernandez. Beautiful nose and perfectly layered followed by a long lasting finish. Still plenty of time left for this 100 point wine. — 10 years ago

with Missy

Jason Boland

9.1

Always one of my favorites. Single owner stored bottle showed great. Pretty mature but great life still left in it. — 11 years ago

Byron C Mayes

9.7

Still really tight. Dark red purple. Classic cassis notes. Still plenty of time left. 2021 maybe? — 11 years ago

Ron R

9.3

Visually, bricking has begun. The nose presented a hint of musty cardboard, at that point, my sphincter started twitching - had I left this too long?
Palate displays spice notes initially, followed by anise, cinnamon and cloves. Mature cherries are also in the foreground with moderate tannins. Finishes with leather, olives notes and moderate sweetness. This is perched on a plateau, and should be consumed now.
The story behind the label is a broken bottle of a 2003 Leoville Las Cases, which pissed it’s pants (so to speak) in my eurocave, back in the day... — 4 years ago

Shay A

9.4

Monthly WTF guys blind tasting group. This month was our annual, and famed, Left Bank vs Right Bank theme. All wines served blind as usual. Started off with a Rosé and a champagne. Great night.

This was one of my favorites of the night. One of the best young Bordeaux’s I’ve tasted. Ripe and modern nose (fruit forward) with smoked meat and baked blackberry pie. The palate revealed cocoa/dark chocolate, baking spices and a hint of blue fruit wrapped by black fruit. Big. Will obviously get better, but was shocked how good this was now. I called this ‘12-14 Left Bank. — 6 years ago

with Andrew, Jack and 6 others

Seth Morgen Long

Broker • Arterberry Maresh / Winemaker • Morgen Long

9.4

Quite elegantly red fruited, a bit of musk and savory notes, but surprisingly primary. Compared to the ‘89, this is lighter in structure, almost airy, but with years of life left. — 7 years ago

with Abiel

Steve Martinelli

9.4

Coming into its own now, but has more years left on her. Lots of juicy red fruit, red flowers and some savory meaty undertones that balance out the wine. A stunning wine that will get better! — 8 years ago

M Cromwell

9.3

2 hr decant and it needed it. This has significant life left as there is plenty of acid and tannin left. Early this showed cherries, saline and soy at 1 hr. We started drinking at 2 hrs with significant blackberry, black cherry, cedar, graphite and pencil shavings. Consumed over 90 min and raspberries began to show up near the end, but even then still some tannins and acid left. Interesting to see where this goes in 3 years. I would've put this as a 2010. Good, but has room to get even better, even at 11 yrs old. — 9 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.1

1961 vintage. Medium ruby hue. Wood, earth, cedar wood - not a lot of fruit left. Some smokey notes. Mushroom. Ok the palate, medium body and acidity, medium concentration. There's tannins for sure - touch rough. Medium finish. Not my favourite of the trio of '61 Bordeaux. — 9 years ago

David Taylor

9.5

Just a really great milk stout. Hard to beat it, especially with the on point addition of nitro. — 9 years ago

Greg Gregory

9.2

The right bank wine of the night. Still some baby fat at the outset but incredibly alive with years left. — 10 years ago

with Don

Matthew Beckman

9.3

Lovely nose of cherry and tobacco...plenty of time left for this but approachable now. My wine of the night — 10 years ago

Charles Schneider

9.1

Showing well for the age. Texture was pure silk. Good bit of fruit still left in the old bones. Can't wait to show Jean-Louis Carbonnier. — 11 years ago

Brett Francis

9.1

This was quite flavorful and interesting. It had some jam, blackberry, hints of leather and smoke. It had a nice mouthfeel and a medium finish. All in all this was the standout of the night, but still young. — 5 years ago

Steven Comfort

9.1

This was the last bottle from a case I bought in about 1997. Over the 29 years since the wine was made, the noteworthy tar and tobacco notes that Pontet Canet is known for softened to an ashy-ness that is a softer version of a Mouton Rothschild. Still plenty of life left in this outstanding vintage, but the wine won't improve much (if at all) from this point. I enjoyed this bottle with Lucas Comfort, a day after his 29th birthday (1990). — 6 years ago

"Odedi"

9.1

A very enjoyable Left Bank Bordeaux. Showing red and black fruits with earth, vegetables, spices, tobacco leaf, wet leaves, black tea and black pepper.

This great vintage red is still young, and needs another 5 to 10 years of bottle time. Already showing nice complexity and mouthfeel.

Long finish with firm tannins and tangy raspberries.

Needs a couple of hours to open up properly and show the tannins and complexity.

Wine Enthusiasts 94 points.

A blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot and 3% Petite Verdot.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$70. — 6 years ago

Sara Stuckey

9.1

I’d never heard of “White” Pinot Noir before, but I’m sitting in a restaurant and it was on the “by the glass” list, so here we are.

This does not suck. It’s quite refreshing, actually. I’m a big fan of Sauvignon Blanc and I’d say this splits the difference between the crisp fruitiness of the Sav Blanc and the über-lightness of a Pinot Grigio.

Also, is it weird that I seem to detect a hint of blue cheese in this wine. (A good thing, I think). I don’t know the vintage of this bottle, but I could recommend it! — 7 years ago

David From The 504

9.2

Go to bottle of Hermitage, good price point Syrah what else to say! Plenty of time left in this. — 8 years ago

Anthony Biagi

Winemaker Hourglass, Owner Patria

9.0

Bella oaks not Martha's but a very satisfying wine. Very tasty and has great life left. Bought this from the winery two weeks ago as they are selling older stocks of this — 9 years ago

Joe Lucca

9.0

Funk on top of funk on the nose. Basement, wet leaves, forest floor, cedar water, eucalyptus, and mushroom. Not much fruit left; the palate is austere and tart with red currant, mint, tobacco, and some oak. A nice old world opener for the night. Thanks @Frank for gifting this! — 9 years ago

Ryan Mullins

9.5

With lots of life left — 9 years ago

with John

Roy Piper

8.9

2010... Despite the mich higher than usual alcohol for this wine (14.9%), it still has the prototypical Left Bank Bordeaux style aromas. It does seem to be evolving much faster than most of his Cabs. Already seeing some slight fruit fade and some secondary aromas. Good now but might peak within 5 years, IMHO. — 10 years ago

Jeff Meyers

9.4

Impressive wine. Dense rich iodine quality. In my book the tannins are resolved but it may have a few years left in it. This is the best of California akin to Diamond Creek. — 11 years ago

Andrew Lampasone

Owner Wine Watch Selections

9.2

One of our brown bag wines today. I usually get one right and I guessed 1985 left bank on this one! Delicious - thanks Gene! — 12 years ago